Spielberg Inaugurates Daniel Day-Lewis as ‘Lincoln’

Brilliant and eccentric method actor Daniel Day-Lewis will stop shaving today, as Steven Spielberg has chosen him to play our great nation’s 16th President in Lincoln. The announcement was made today by Spielberg and Stacey Snider, Co-Chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios.

“Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema’s distant future I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with Lincoln,” said Steven Spielberg. “Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material,” added Stacey Snider, “which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for Lincoln.”

Day-Lewis teaming up with Spielberg for the first time can only mean good things. Several years ago, Liam Neeson was attached to play Lincoln, because the guy looks exactly like him, but the project never got off the ground and Neeson went on to star in everything else that has filmed since then. Production of the Tony Kushner adapted script from the novel Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns is expected to begin fall 2011 for a release at the end of 2012. That gives Day-Lewis almost an entire year to master that unique Honest Abe gigantism strut. (TheWrap)